Dalglish defiant after defeat

14 May 2012 06:17

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish responded angrily to suggestions he may not be in charge next season after his side's disappointing Barclays Premier League campaign ended with a 1-0 defeat at Swansea.

Reports in some Sunday newspapers had suggested that Dalglish would leave the manager's position during the summer, with Wigan boss Roberto Martinez being tipped as the man to replace him.

After watching Danny Graham's 100th career goal condemn them to an eighth-placed finish, Dalglish was asked if he expected to be in the Anfield hot seat next season. He replied: "I expect the owners to have more dignity and integrity than to believe a story in a newspaper."

The visitors were outplayed during the first half but posed a greater threat after the break, with Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm making one stunning save to keep out Andy Carroll's acrobatic overhead kick and then making a low stop to deny the Â£35million striker.

And Dalglish felt his side had deserved at least a point, but acknowledged their campaign, which ended with Liverpool below local rivals Everton for the first time since 2005, had not been good enough.

"I think on the second-half performance, the least they deserved was a point," he said. "We've got to keep believing and in credit to the players they have kept believing. The passing and moving at times has been excellent and the goalkeeper's save to stop Andy was fantastic. We just have to keep going and maybe next year the luck will change for us.

"We won't run away from the points tally or hide or say the points tally is satisfactory to anyone who works for or supports Liverpool Football Club. We will face up to reality. The performances have been excellent in a lot of cases but not the points tally, so we will try our best to correct that."

For Swansea the result capped a fantastic debut season in the Barclays Premier League, which has also seen them claim memorable wins over Arsenal and champions Manchester City. They missed out on a top-10 finish to West Brom on goals scored.

Unsurprisingly there was a celebratory atmosphere throughout the contest, with hordes of fans taking up manager Brendan Rodgers' invitation to dress up in Elvis Presley costumes. And the Northern Irishman admitted the win, secured by Graham's sweet finish from Angel Rangel's pass four minutes from time, was the perfect way to cap the campaign.

"It has been a fairytale and what an end to the season," he said. "The players did brilliantly, their pressing and work-rate was phenomenal. We were worthy winners and it finished a brilliant season."